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only, provided that they are reproduced in their entirety, with no alterations, and with credit to ACTFL.

8 ACTFL, Inc.,1999

Speakers at the Superior level are able to communicate in the language with accuracy and fluency in order to participate fully and

effectively in conversations on a variety of topics in formal and informal settings from both concrete and abstract perspectives. They

discuss their interests and special fields of competence, explain complex matters in detail, and provide lengthy and coherent narrations, all

issues, and provide structured argument to support their opinions. They are able to construct and develop hypotheses to explore

alternative possibilities. When appropriate, they use extended discourse without unnaturally lengthy hesitation to make their point, even

when engaged in abstract elaborations. Such discourse, while coherent, may still be influenced by the Superior speakers own language

patterns, rather than those of the target language.

Superior speakers command a variety of interactive and discourse strategies, such as turn-taking and separating main ideas from

supporting information through the use of syntactic and lexical devices, as well as intonational features such as pitch, stress and tone.

They demonstrate virtually no pattern of error in the use of basic structures. However, they may make sporadic errors, particularly in

low-frequency structures and in some complex high-frequency structures more common to formal speech and writing. Such errors, if

they do occur, do not distract the native interlocutor or interfere with communication.

Speakers at the Advanced-High level perform all Advanced-level tasks with linguistic ease, confidence and competence. They are able to

consistently explain in detail and narrate fully and accurately in all time frames. In addition, Advanced-High speakers handle the tasks

pertaining to the Superior level but cannot sustain performance at that level across a variety of topics. They can provide a structured

argument to support their opinions, and they may construct hypotheses, but patterns of error appear. They can discuss some topics

abstractly, especially those relating to their particular interests and special fields of expertise, but in general, they are more comfortable

discussing a variety of topics concretely.

Advanced-High speakers may demonstrate a well-developed ability to compensate for an imperfect grasp of some forms or for limitations

in vocabulary by the confident use of communicative strategies, such as paraphrasing, circumlocution, and illustration. They use precise

vocabulary and intonation to express meaning and often show great fluency and ease of speech. However, when called on to perform the

complex tasks associated with the Superior level over a variety of topics, their language will at times break down or prove inadequate, or

they may avoid the task altogether, for example, by resorting to simplification through the use of description or narration in place of

argument or hypothesis.

Speakers at the Advanced-Mid level are able to handle with ease and confidence a large number of communicative tasks. They participate

actively in most informal and some formal exchanges on a variety of concrete topics relating to work, school, home, and leisure activities,

as well as to events of current, public, and personal interest or individual relevance.

Advanced-Mid speakers demonstrate the ability to narrate and describe in all major time frames (past, present, and future) by providing a

full account, with good control of aspect, as they adapt flexibly to the demands of the conversation. Narration and description tend to be

combined and interwoven to relate relevant and supporting facts in connected, paragraph-length discourse.

Advanced-Mid speakers can handle successfully and with relative ease the linguistic challenges presented by a complication or unexpected

turn of events that occurs within the context of a routine situation or communicative task with which they are otherwise familiar.

Communicative strategies such as circumlocution or rephrasing are often employed for this purpose. The speech of Advanced-Mid

speakers performing Advanced-level tasks is marked by substantial flow. Their vocabulary is fairly extensive although primarily generic

in nature, except in the case of a particular area of specialization or interest. Dominant language discourse structures tend to recede,

although discourse may still reflect the oral paragraph structure of their own language rather than that of the target language.

Advanced-Mid speakers contribute to conversations on a variety of familiar topics, dealt with concretely, with much accuracy, clarity and

precision, and they convey their intended message without misrepresentation or confusion. They are readily understood by native speakers

unaccustomed to dealing with non-natives. When called on to perform functions or handle topics associated with the Superior level, the

quality and/or quantity of their speech will generally decline. Advanced-Mid speakers are often able to state an opinion or cite conditions;

however, they lack the ability to consistently provide a structured argument in extended discourse. Advanced-Mid speakers may use a

number of delaying strategies, resort to narration, description, explanation or anecdote, or simply attempt to avoid the linguistic demands

of Superior-level tasks.

8 ACTFL, Inc.,1999

Speakers at the Advanced-Low level are able to handle a variety of communicative tasks, although somewhat haltingly at times. They participate

actively in most informal and a limited number of formal conversations on activities related to school, home, and leisure activities and, to a lesser

degree, those related to events of work, current, public, and personal interest or individual relevance.

Advanced-Low speakers demonstrate the ability to narrate and describe in all major time frames (past, present and future) in paragraph length

discourse, but control of aspect may be lacking at times. They can handle appropriately the linguistic challenges presented by a complication or

unexpected turn of events that occurs within the context of a routine situation or communicative task with which they are otherwise familiar, though

at times their discourse may be minimal for the level and strained. Communicative strategies such as rephrasing and circumlocution may be

employed in such instances. In their narrations and descriptions, they combine and link sentences into connected discourse of paragraph length.

When pressed for a fuller account, they tend to grope and rely on minimal discourse. Their utterances are typically not longer than a single

paragraph. Structure of the dominant language is still evident in the use of false cognates, literal translations, or the oral paragraph structure of the

speaker's own language rather than that of the target language.

While the language of Advanced-Low speakers may be marked by substantial, albeit irregular flow, it is typically somewhat strained and tentative,

with noticeable self-correction and a certain >grammatical roughness.= The vocabulary of Advanced-Low speakers is primarily generic in nature.

Advanced-Low speakers contribute to the conversation with sufficient accuracy, clarity, and precision to convey their intended message without

misrepresentation or confusion, and it can be understood by native speakers unaccustomed to dealing with non-natives, even though this may be

achieved through repetition and restatement. When attempting to perform functions or handle topics associated with the Superior level, the linguistic

quality and quantity of their speech will deteriorate significantly.

Intermediate-High speakers are able to converse with ease and confidence when dealing with most routine tasks and social situations of the

Intermediate level. They are able to handle successfully many uncomplicated tasks and social situations requiring an exchange of basic information

related to work, school, recreation, particular interests and areas of competence, though hesitation and errors may be evident.

Intermediate-High speakers handle the tasks pertaining to the Advanced level, but they are unable to sustain performance at that level over a variety

of topics. With some consistency, speakers at the Intermediate High level narrate and describe in major time frames using connected discourse of

paragraph length. However, their performance of these Advanced-level tasks will exhibit one or more features of breakdown, such as the failure to

maintain the narration or description semantically or syntactically in the appropriate major time frame, the disintegration of connected discourse, the

misuse of cohesive devises, a reduction in breadth and appropriateness of vocabulary, the failure to successfully circumlocute, or a significant

amount of hesitation.

Intermediate-High speakers can generally be understood by native speakers unaccustomed to dealing with non-natives, although the dominant

language is still evident (e.g. use of code-switching, false cognates, literal translations, etc.), and gaps in communication may occur.

Speakers at the Intermediate-Mid level are able to handle successfully a variety of uncomplicated communicative tasks in straightforward social

situations. Conversation is generally limited to those predictable and concrete exchanges necessary for survival in the target culture; these include

personal information covering self, family, home, daily activities, interests and personal preferences, as well as physical and social needs, such as

food, shopping, travel and lodging.

Intermediate-Mid speakers tend to function reactively, for example, by responding to direct questions or requests for information. However, they are

capable of asking a variety of questions when necessary to obtain simple information to satisfy basic needs, such as directions, prices and services.

When called on to perform functions or handle topics at the Advanced level, they provide some information but have difficulty linking ideas,

manipulating time and aspect, and using communicative strategies, such as circumlocution.

Intermediate-Mid speakers are able to express personal meaning by creating with the language, in part by combining and recombining known

elements and conversational input to make utterances of sentence length and some strings of sentences. Their speech may contain pauses,

reformulations and self-corrections as they search for adequate vocabulary and appropriate language forms to express themselves. Because of

inaccuracies in their vocabulary and/or pronunciation and/or grammar and/or syntax, misunderstandings can occur, but Intermediate-Mid speakers

are generally understood by sympathetic interlocutors accustomed to dealing with non-natives.

8 ACTFL, Inc.,1999

Speakers at the Intermediate-Low level are able to handle successfully a limited number of uncomplicated communicative tasks by

creating with the language in straightforward social situations. Conversation is restricted to some of the concrete exchanges and

predictable topics necessary for survival in the target language culture. These topics relate to basic personal information covering, for

example, self and family, some daily activities and personal preferences, as well as to some immediate needs, such as ordering food and

making simple purchases. At the Intermediate-Low level, speakers are primarily reactive and struggle to answer direct questions or

requests for information, but they are also able to ask a few appropriate questions.

Intermediate-Low speakers express personal meaning by combining and recombining into short statements what they know and what

they hear from their interlocutors. Their utterances are often filled with hesitancy and inaccuracies as they search for appropriate

linguistic forms and vocabulary while attempting to give form to the message. Their speech is characterized by frequent pauses,

ineffective reformulations and self-corrections. Their pronunciation, vocabulary and syntax are strongly influenced by their first

language but, in spite of frequent misunderstandings that require repetition or rephrasing, Intermediate-Low speakers can generally be

understood by sympathetic interlocutors, particularly by those accustomed to dealing with non-natives.

Speakers at the Novice-High level are able to handle a variety of tasks pertaining to the Intermediate level, but are unable to sustain

performance at that level. They are able to manage successfully a number of uncomplicated communicative tasks in straightforward

social situations. Conversation is restricted to a few of the predictable topics necessary for survival in the target language culture, such

as basic personal information, basic objects and a limited number of activities, preferences and immediate needs. Novice-High speakers

respond to simple, direct questions or requests for information; they are able to ask only a very few formulaic questions when asked to

do so.

Novice-High speakers are able to express personal meaning by relying heavily on learned phrases or recombinations of these and what

they hear from their interlocutor. Their utterances, which consist mostly of short and sometimes incomplete sentences in the present,

may be hesitant or inaccurate. On the other hand, since these utterances are frequently only expansions of learned material and stock

phrases, they may sometimes appear surprisingly fluent and accurate. These speakers= first language may strongly influence their

pronunciation, as well as their vocabulary and syntax when they attempt to personalize their utterances. Frequent misunderstandings

may arise but, with repetition or rephrasing, Novice-High speakers can generally be understood by sympathetic interlocutors used to

non-natives. When called on to handle simply a variety of topics and perform functions pertaining to the Intermediate level, a Novice-

High speaker can sometimes respond in intelligible sentences, but will not be able to sustain sentence level discourse.

Speakers at the Novice-Mid level communicate minimally and with difficulty by using a number of isolated words and memorized

phrases limited by the particular context in which the language has been learned. When responding to direct questions, they may utter

only two or three words at a time or an occasional stock answer. They pause frequently as they search for simple vocabulary or attempt

to recycle their own and their interlocutor=s words. Because of hesitations, lack of vocabulary, inaccuracy, or failure to respond

appropriately, Novice-Mid speakers may be understood with great difficulty even by sympathetic interlocutors accustomed to dealing with

non-natives. When called on to handle topics by performing functions associated with the Intermediate level, they frequently resort to

repetition, words from their native language, or silence.

Speakers at the Novice-Low level have no real functional ability and, because of their pronunciation, they may be unintelligible. Given

adequate time and familiar cues, they may be able to exchange greetings, give their identity, and name a number of familiar objects from

their immediate environment. They are unable to perform functions or handle topics pertaining to the Intermediate level, and cannot

therefore participate in a true conversational exchange.